An extremely addictive liquid opium solution commonly used for a variety of ailments in Victorian England. Based on the author’s own opium addiction, the novel’s plot ultimately revolves around the laudanum-addicted doctor Ezra Jennings giving Franklin Blake the drug to prove that, under its unwitting influence a year earlier (thanks to Mr. Candy), Franklin stole the Moonstone.
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Laudanum Term Timeline in The Moonstone
The timeline below shows where the term Laudanum appears in The Moonstone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Discovery of the Truth: Third Narrative: Franklin Blake: Chapter 10
...and then his new filled-in version, in which Candy appears to admit having slipped Franklin laudanum. Although Franklin does not know much about Laudanum, he admits that he “feel[s] convinced” that...
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...be enough to prove Franklin’s innocence if it goes correctly. Franklin’s only question is why laudanum would have made him walk around, not go straight to sleep, and Jennings declares Franklin...
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The Discovery of the Truth: Fourth Narrative: Ezra Jennings
...disappearance, so that Franklin can have digested to the same extent when he takes the laudanum at night. Jennings hopes to bring up the Moonstone after dinner and before slipping Franklin...
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...PM, Jennings writes that he has visited the medicine cabinet to prepare the dose of Laudanum, and decided to increase this dose: the amount Mr. Candy stated he gave Franklin Blake...
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...is busy working in the next room. Franklin asks when it is time for his laudanum, and Jennings implores him to wait, since he knows that Mr. Candy must have originally...
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...and Betteredge brings Jennings a letter from Rachel, who wishes to watch Jennings prepare the laudanum. Betteredge is surprised and suspicious when Jennings asks him to bring the medicine-chest to Rachel’s...
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...everything exactly like the year before, and requests to help Jennings make Franklin’s water with laudanum. She kisses the glass and tells Jennings to “give it to him on that side!”...
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...to “fill his mind” with the subject. In the minutes before midnight, Jennings notices the laudanum begin to take effect, and he signals to Bruff and Betteredge that they should remove...
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...the year before would have been impossible, and he may have given Franklin too much laudanum. Bruff and Betteredge both admit that they were wrong to doubt Jennings, and admit that...
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The Discovery of the Truth: Sixth Narrative: Sergeant Cuff: Chapter 3
...as of the date of the Diamond’s theft. Godfrey helped Mr. Candy slip Franklin the laudanum on the night of the theft.
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The Discovery of the Truth: Seventh Narrative: Mr. Candy
...manuscript of a book. He removes the section of his diary dealing with Franklin Blake’s laudanum experiment, and asks Candy to send those pages to Franklin. He then says a prayer...
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